Grille structure



y 8, 1953 v. D. c As'r| E 2,646,741

' GRILLE STRUCTURE Filed June 25, 1948 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 v 'Vr/zm .ZPeZZCQSZ Q9: W W 1 v 5 July 28, 1953 v, CASTLE 2,646,741

GRILLE STRUCTURE Filed June 25. 1948 2 sheets-S asta Java/22 07 Patented July 28, 1953 GRILLE STRUCTURE Vernon Dell Castle, Waterloo, Iowa, assignor to Titus Manufacturing Corporation, Waterloo,- Iowa, a corporation of Iowa I 4 Application June 25, 1948, Serial No. 35,188

11 Claims. (01. 98-40) .This invention relates in general to a grille construction wherein a plurality of louvres are mounted for individual adjustment within a frame, and the primary object of the invention is to provide aQnew and novel form of mounting means whereby the louvres can be independently rotated for adjustment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of mounting means for the louvres of a grille whereby each louvre may be individuallyadjusted and held in its adjusted position by a novel form of frictional holding means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of mounting means for the louvres of a grille, which mounting means are located intermediate the ends of the louvres and extend therethroug'h.

Still another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a mounting means for the louvres of a grille wherein a rod will extend through the louvres in a direction transverse thereto, the rod having a plurality of spaced apart spherical or cylindrical elements adapted to cooperate with openings in the louvres for rotatably mounting the louvres for individual adjustment.

A still further object of the invention is the provision'of novel frictional means for engaging the ends of the louvres in a grille, whereby'each louvre is adjustably mounted and may be held in its adjusted position by the frictions means.

Still another object is to provide a novel method of attaching the individual louvres of a grille to a mounting means therefor located betweerrthe ends of each louvre.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the'following accomdescription taken in conjunction with the panying drawings-in which: 1

, Fig; 1 is a perspective view of a grille embodying the present invention;

.Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 22.of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line of Fig. 1;

a louvre after attachment of the louvr to th mounting means; N I

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the spacer members utilized on the mounting 'means;

Fig. i'is an exploded view of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the parts of Fig. '7 in assembled relation;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of a still further modified form of the mounting means for the louvre;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view on the line lfl-|0ofFig.9; v

Fig. 11 is-a fragmentary elevational view of another modified form of the mounting-means for the louvre; and

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line I2l2 of Fig. 11.

For purposes of illustration, the various forms of the invention herein have been illustrated as being embodied in an elongated rectangular grille, although itwill be evident as the description proceeds'that the particular form or shape of the frame within which thelouvres are located is not an important consideration. The-inven .tion is particularly adapted for usein connection with a grille which may be-utilized in the walls of homes and the like where air is to be forced through a conduit to the grille. The louvres of the grille are each individually mounted for rotation and adjustment so that the direction of air passing through the grille can be easily and quickly controlled. V I

The novel meansand method of mounting the louvreswithin the frame for individual adjustment includes one or more spindlesor rods passing through openings in the louvres and extending in a direction at substantially right angles to the louvres. The rod has a plurality of fastening means thereon which, for purposes of i1lus-. tration, 'have been variously shown herein as spheres, a sleeve is inserted in an opening in the grille and'receives the sphere. The ends of the sleeve are then upset around the sphere and are flanged to hold the parts assembled. When cylinders are used instead of spheres. the cylin- -ders may be rotatably mounted in the louvres either by upsetting that portion of the louvre around the cylinder, or by providing the cylinder with end projections which act as pivot pins.

The'other features of the present invention which cooperates withithe novel mounting means substantially fiat surface 6 with a relativelyshort rearwardly extending flange! on the outer edge thereof. members extends rearwardly to provide a relatively longer flange 8 within which the louvres 9 The inner edge of theend and side;

are mounted. Each louvre is rovided" at each: end thereof with a pivot pin l0 which pasdflfi;

through a suitable opening in the flange 8.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3, the novel form of frictional retaining means for the louvres includes an elongated wire member ll which is adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of adjacent pivot pins l0. oppositely extending ears [2 and I3 struck outwardly from the upper and lower parts of the endflanges S are adapted to receive and hold the ends of the wire H. The wire H is sufliciently flexible so as to be bent and extend on opposite sides of each of the adjacent pivot pins Ill, and yet the wire is sufiiciently rigid so that it will bear against the pins l0 thereby providing a frictional engagement therewith.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, four of thelouvres 9 are shown as extending between the end flanges 8, each louvre being pro vided at each end thereof with a pivot pin Ill extending through the end flanges 8, Thewire l l is held at its upper end by the outwardly struck ear I2 and then passes downwardly first on one side of the upper pivot pin 10 and then on the opposite side of the next lower pivot pin Ill. The wire ll then continues to engage alternate sides of the pin l0, and the lower end thereof is then held in place by the lower outwardly struck ear l3. Thus, when the louvres are rotated about the pins I0 there will be a sufficient friction created between the pins l9 and the wire H at; each end of the frame to hold each of the louvres in its adjusted position.

Each louvre is also provide d with a novel form of mounting means intermediate the ends thereof, which means includes a transversely extending rod 14 provided with a pluralityof spaced apart spherical members l5. Each louvre 9 is initially provided with an opening l6 of substantially thesame diameter as each of the spheres l5 so that it will be able to receive one of thespheres 15. The manner of mounting and securing the louvres on the intermediate mounting means will be the same for each louvre, and a description as to the manner of fastening one louvre to this means will sufiice for all. I

Reference is now made to Figs. 4 and 5, wherein Fig. 4 illustrates one of the louvres 9 in a vertical cross-section showing the opening J6 therein. The rod M with the sphere l5 thereon is first inserted within the louvre 9 so that the opening it will receive the sphere 15. The next step in the process of attachment is to upset the louvre 9 in the immediate vicinity of the sphere l5 so that the material of the louvre 9 will flow upwardly and downwardly for a short distance around the sphere l5. This will result in an annular groove H on the top and bottom of the'louvre-surrounding the sphere I5. Fig. 5 shows the result of this operation and it will be quite evident that the louvre 9 of Fig. 5 can be rotated about its longitudinal axis and about the sphere l5 as its rotatable supporting means. This process may be carried out for as many louvres as there is intendedto be inthe grille, there being one sphere [5 for each louvres on eachrod M. Only one rod 14 has been shown herein, but it will be evident that more than one such mounting means may be used if desired, for example if the grille is an extremely: long one and necessitates a greater number of intermediate supports. A plurality of tubula spacer members l8 may be inserted on the rod, i9 after each louvre 5 has been attached thereto.

In actualpractice the louvres disclosed herein are formed of metal in an extruding process, so that each louvre is a solid piece and hence the upsetting and flowing of the metal around the variousspheres [5 has been deemed to be the e t Way in which the attachment can be made.

The. invention is equally applicable, however, to a louvre which is formed of a single strip of thin material and folded upon itself to form a hollow louvre. The same manner of attachment to the spheresmay be used, except that the opposite sides-of. eachlouvre willbe clamped around the sphereto provide a rotatable mounting. Also, the invention is not limited to use in connection with a metal louvre, but the construction is also adapted for use with louvres of plastic or other suitable material which may be upset or worked.

The louvres in the illustrated example are all shown as extending in a horizontal direction within the frame, but it will be evident that'the direction in which the louvres extend is not im= portant, since they could be vertical or they could be disposed at an angle between vertical and horizontal. Furthermore, if a novel form of design is desired, the rod or rods l4 could be disposed at ,an angle other than perpendicular to thelouvres.- In this latter case, the result would be the same except that the louvres might not be able to be rotated through as great an angle as when the rod and louvres are perpendicular to each other.

The friction means at each end of the frame which are designed to frictionally engage the pins at the ends of the louvres cooperate with the mounting means intermediate the ends of the louvres to accomplish the unitary result ofa novel form of mounting means to permit a rotatable adjustment of the louvres individually and hold each louvre in its adjusted position.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. '7 and 8, there is shown a modified form of the mounting means for the louvre similar to that illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 but wherein an additional member is introduced into the assembly for retaining the spherical enlargements within the opening of the louvre for pivotal movement. In these figures, the louvre is indicated by the numeral l9 and is shown as having an opening 20 therethrough. In this form of the invention, the opening 2!! is preferably circular in form. A sleeve 2] having an annular flange 22 at one end thereof is adapted to be received within the opening 20 in the louvre and to have a snug fit therein. Ihe'inside diameter of the sleeve 2! is such as to becapable of receiving a spherical enlargement 2.3 on the rod which forms the mounting means.

After the sphere 23 is in place, withi the sleeve 2 I, the sleeve is then upset so as to provide flanges 24 on one end thereof and the flange 22 at the opposite end is bent inwardly toward the louvre whereby the sleeve is held against removal. The sleeve is then further upset so that the area between the ends thereof is formed into an arcuate shape partially surrounding the sphere 23 as shown at 39, thus instead of the louvre itself being upset as shown in Fig. 5, the sleeve 2| is used as a retaining means and has its intermediate portion upset to retain the sphere. The louvre I9 will therefore be capable of a rotary movement around the sphere 23 in the manner heretofore described. It is possible to employ wood louvres in this type of construction.

In Figs. 9 and the enlargement on the rod is shown as being cylindrical rather than spherical. The louvre 25 is provided with a rectangular opening 26 therethrough which is adapted to receive the cylindrical member 21. The area of the louvre immediately surrounding the cylinder 21 is then upset as shown at 28 to provide upper and lower arcuate portions, thereby retaining the cylinder within the opening and preventing its removal therefrom, but permitting the relative rotative movement between the cylinder and the louvre. In this case, the cylinder 21 has an opening therethrough adapted to receive the rod 29 which rod is upset on each side of the cylinder as shown at 30 to thereby retain the cylinder against movement along the length of the rod. Here again the rod 29 is equivalent to the rod 14 shown in Fig. 1 and is used for mounting aplurality of the louvres 25 for individual rotative movement.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a further modification of the retaining means whereby the louvres are mounted for individual rotation. In this form of the invention, the louvre 3| hasa rectangular opening 32 therethrough together with smaller openings 33 extending outwardly from each side of the larger opening 32. These openings are adapted to receive a cylindrical member 34 which has at each end thereof the outwardly extending pins 35. The cylindrical member 34 is received within the large opening 32, and the pins 35 are received within the smaller openings 33. The cylindrical member 34 also has an opening 36 therethrough for the reception of the retaining rod 31. As stated before, the metal of the louvre immediately surrounding the cylinder 34 and pins 35 may be upset to form arcuate portions which retain the cylinder and enable a relative rotative movement to be accomplished between the louvre and the cylinder. The rod 31 may also be upset as at 38 on opposite sides of the cylinder 34 to thereby retain the cylinder on the rod.

Each form of the invention, as described above, is adapted to be used in combination with the friction means at each end of the frame whereby the louvres may be frictionally held in any position to which they may be adjusted after they have been rotated about the particular mounting means.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts from that disclosed herein without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the attendant advantages thereof, provided, however, that such changes fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A grille construction, comprising a frame, a plurality of louvre vanes mounted within said frame, and means intermediate the ends of said vanes for mounting each of the vanes for independent rotation and adjustment with respect to each other, said means comprising a member supported from the frame, an arcuately surfaced enlarged" portion associated with said member for each of said vanes and an opening in each of said vanes the sides of which are substantially complemental to and cooperative with said arcuate surface of said enlargement.

2. A grille construction, comprising a frame;

a plurality of louvre vanes mounted within said frame; means intermediate the ends of said vanes for mounting each of said vanes for independentrotation and adjustment with respect to' eachother, said-means comprising a member supported from the frame, anarcuately surfaced enlarged portion associated with said member for each of other, said means comprising a member supported from the frame, an arcuately surfaced enlarged portion associated with said member for each of said vanes and an opening in each of said vanes, the side of which are substantially complemental to and cooperative with said arcuate surface of said enlargement, and means to frictionally retain each of said vanes-in adjusted position.

4. A grille construction, comprising a frame, a plurality of louvre vanes mounted Within said frame, means intermediate the ends of said vanes for mounting each of said vanes for independent rotation and adjustment with respect to each other, said means comprising a member supported from the frame, an arcuately surfaced enlarged portion associated with said member for each of said vanes and an opening in each of said vanes, the sides of which are substantially complemental to and cooperative with said arcuate surface of said enlargement, and means at each end of said frame operatively associated with said vanes to frictionally retain each of said vanes in adjusted position.

5. A grille construction, comprising a frame, a plurality of louvre vanes mounted within said frame, a rod extending between opposed sides of said frame in a direction transverse to said vanes, said vanes being provided with aligned openings, and cooperating means on said rod and said vanes to mount said vanes for independent rotation and adjustment including an arcuately surfaced enlarged portion associated with said rod for each of said vanes and secured in each of said openings.

6. A grille construction, comprising a frame, a plurality of louvre vanes mounted within said frame, a rod extending between opposed sides of said frame, cooperating means on said rod and said vanes to mount said vanes for independent rotation and adjustment, said vanes each being provided with an opening having arcuate sides and said cooperating means on said rod comprising an arcuately surfaced enlarged portion complemental to and cooperating with the said sides of said opening, and means at an end of said frame for frictionally retaining each of said vanes in adjusted position.

7. A grille construction, comprising a frame,

a pluralityof louvre .vanesr-mountedzwithin said frame, a-rodextending between: opposedsides of saidframe and passingthrough openings in said vanes, a plurality: of substantially, spherical enlargementsron said rod-in spaced; relation, one of saidenlargements being located within the opening of eachivane; and each vane being upset in the areasurrounding the enlargement therein, thereby. to partially surround the en-.

largement and form a pivotal sup-port for, the vane.

8. A grille construction comprising a frame, a plurality of louvre'vanes mounted within said frame, a rod-extending between opposed sides of said irame, :and passing through openings in said ,vanes,.a pluralityof enlargements on said rodin spaced-relation, one of said enlargements being located within the opening. of eachvane, and means -in' the. opening of each vane partially surrounding theenlargement therein, whereby the vanemaybe rotated about said enlargement as a center for purposes of adjustment 9. A grille construction comprising a frame, a plurality-oi louvre vanes mounted within said frame a rod extending between opposedsides of said. frame, andpassing through openings in said vanes, a plurality of substantially spherical enlargementsson said rodin spaced relation, one of said enlargements being located Within the opening of each vane, atubular sleeve located within the openingfof each vane and surrounding the spherical enlargement therein, and means at oppositeends of said sleeve, cooperating with the vane. to retain said sleeve in place, and the portions of said sleeve intermediate the ends thereof being. arcuate to thereby partially surround the" spherical enlargement therein and form a pivotal support for the vane.

10. A grille construction comprising a frame, a plurality of louvre vanes mounted Within said framd a rod-extending between opposed sides of said'irame and passing throughiopenings in said wanes; a plurality of cylindrical members mountedon said rod in spaced relation, one of said cylindrical members being located within theopening of each vane, and each vane being upset-in thearea surrounding the cylindrical member therein, thereby-to partially surroundthe cylindrical member and form a pivotal support for the vane.

11. The combination ofelements as defined in claimz l-0 combined-:with a pivot pin extending outwardly from each-end of said cylindrical member and received Within-corresponding openingsflill each-of said vanes, the material of the vane immediatelysurrounding each of said pins, being-upsetto partiallysurround the pins, thereby to form a pivotal support for the vane.

VERNON DELL. CASTLE.

I References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED; STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 1 1,465,700 Weibull Aug. 21, 1923 1,718,754 Stuart et a1. June 25, 1929 1,956;8'29 Frank May 1, 1934 2,034,231 Fox Mar} 17, 1936 2,051,613" Macleod Aug. 18, 1936 21169370" Johnson Feb. 2, 1937 2,152,447 Wheeler Mar. 28, 1939 2,185,712 Rowley Jan. 2, 1940' 2,195,411 Germonprez Apr. 2, 1940 2,402,595 Blair June 25, 1946 2,462,138 Spangenberg Feb. 22, 1949 2,588,626 Fourtier Mar. 11, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 390,866 I Great Britain Apr. 20, 1933 675,341 Germany May 6, 1939 

